Key facts
- Russia stated that security guarantees for Ukraine cannot be established without its involvement.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz previously said Russia should not have a role in Ukraine's security arrangements.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized Merz's position as a "dead-end" for European governments.
- Ukraine seeks Western guarantees for protection against future Russian attacks.
- The EU sanctioned Russian tech firm VK, alleging it supports repression.
The Kremlin asserted on Tuesday that any security guarantees for Ukraine must involve Russia, directly responding to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's statement that Moscow should not have a role in shaping such arrangements. Merz had previously stated that the decision on Ukraine's security should be made by Ukraine and its partners, not Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov characterized Merz's comments as indicative of the "dead-end position" adopted by European governments regarding the conflict. He told reporters that formulating security guarantees without Russia's participation is impossible and that if Europeans insist on this stance, it would preclude their involvement in the settlement process.
Ukraine is seeking security guarantees from Western nations to safeguard against potential future aggression from Moscow, as Russian forces currently occupy approximately one-fifth of its territory.
In a separate development, Peskov described the European Union's imposition of sanctions on the tech firm VK, the company behind Russia's MAX messaging app, as "utterly absurd." Critics accuse Russian authorities of utilizing the app for surveillance, a claim the Kremlin denies. Peskov stated that the EU sanctions would not impede VK's rapid and successful growth. The EU, however, asserted that VK, by developing MAX, was providing "technical support for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition."